Should New Cars Be Parked in Direct Sunlight?
2 Answers
It is best not to expose new cars to direct sunlight for extended periods. Below are some hazards associated with prolonged sun exposure for vehicles: 1. Increased harmful gases inside the car: While sunlight can help eliminate odors like formaldehyde, excessive exposure can rapidly generate large amounts of these gases, which are difficult to dissipate. Therefore, remember to ventilate the car while it's exposed to sunlight. 2. Elevated safety risks: Items such as compressed gas containers, lithium batteries, lighters commonly used by men, moisturizing sprays often used by women, cooling sprays frequently used in summer, and power banks are prone to explosion or combustion under high temperatures. It's advisable to store these items in the glove compartment or other areas shielded from direct sunlight, or preferably not leave them in the car at all. 3. Risk of spontaneous combustion: Prolonged exposure to sunlight may lead to vehicle fires.
I have reservations about exposing a new car to prolonged sunlight. While high temperatures can accelerate the release of harmful substances like formaldehyde, improving air quality, the long-term damage from excessive sun exposure is significant. UV rays can cause the car paint to oxidize and fade, crack the leather on the dashboard and seats, and even deform or age plastic components. If you really want to use sunlight to eliminate odors, I recommend limiting it to two or three times a week, about two hours each session—never leave it in the sun for entire days. Crack the windows slightly for ventilation and place some activated charcoal bags inside to absorb odors. A better approach is to drive with the windows down more often and use an in-car air purifier, which causes far less wear and tear on the vehicle.
